Devotionals

Running From God

by Jennifer Woodley 
07/07/23
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“But Jonah set out to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.” Jonah 1:3 (NRSV)

Jonah had one desperate thought: to get as far away from God as possible. God told him to go east to the great city of Ninevah, but Jonah headed westwards on a boat to Tarshish instead.

However, as the psalmist David declared, where can we really go to escape God's presence? The answer is nowhere. It's insane to think we can escape from the One who made the world. Everything is His and He is in everything.

We may, like Jonah, try anything to avoid God's directive. But eventually we will realise the futility of running from God. In our disobedience we not only harm ourselves, but often others suffer too. We can probably name who they are, and feel the shame of our mistake. Thank God in His mercy, our mistakes are forgiven and forgotten.

Perhaps we feel like Jonah. We've been given a big task but are running in the opposite direction. Stop. It's no use. God will catch up with us in the end. Let's seek Him for the courage and commitment to turn around, head in the right direction and faithfully follow His words to us. In those times of unwillingness to obey the voice of God, we can be encouraged by Psalm 16:11.

“You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

'Heavenly Father, forgive me when I deliberately run from your voice. Help me to obey and surrender to your directions, knowing that you will help me to do whatever you ask of me.